Acetylene-gas generator.



PATENTED JUNE l2, 1906.

G. E. CHANDLER. AGETYLENB GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.15 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l,

Lam. My'

PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906.

G. E. CHANDLER.

ACBTYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLIATION FILED AUG. 15,' 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

PATENTED JUNE l2, 1906.

G. E. CHANDLER. AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APYLIGATION FILED AUG. l5, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3A im w.;

WITNEEEEE- UNITED srArEs PATENT OFFICE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1906.

' .ippiimionfuediugust15,1902. serialNo. 119,732.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. CHANDLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Taunton, in the county of Bristol and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inAcetylene- Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in acetylene-gas generators.

One object ofthe invention is to so construct a generator whereinacetylene gas can be generated that feeding of the calcium carbid ispositively prevented when the generator is open to the atmos here.

Another object o the invention is to so construct a feed-controller forcontrolling the feeding of calcium carbid that the same is renderedinoperative by the opening of the generator.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of thecarbid-feeding mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to irnprove the construction of themachine with relation to the prevention of the escape of gas into theatmosphere from the various Joints or connections.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the description andclaims.

The invention consists in a gas-generator rovided with a feeding device,a controller or such feeding device, and means for holding thecontroller in an inoperative position while the generator is open.

The invention also consists in the construction of the controller and inthe combination therewith of means for rendering the controllerinoperative.

The invention also consists in the construction of the feeding device.

The invention still further consists in the general novel features ofconstruction of the machine and in the peculiar combination of parts, asshall hereinafter be more fully described, and ointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 o the drawings represents a front elevation of the improvedacetylene-gas machine, portions thereof being broken away to moreclearly illustrate the construction of some of the parts. Fig. 2represents a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a detail side viewofthe counterweighted lever and connecting parts. Fig. 4 represents anenlarged sectional view of the feeding device and its coperatingmechanism. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged cross-sectional view of thecasing for the feed-lever and its shaft; and Fig. 6 represents avertical sectional view of the upper portion of the hopper, showing theconstruction of its neck and the closure thereof, taken on a line atright angles to that shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout.

In carrying this invention into practice my main object has been toprevent the escape of gas into the atmosphere whether such esca e isoccasioned by leaks in joints of the mac -ne .in which movable parts aremounted or from failure to close an opening through which gas mayescape, my other objects, of equal importance therewith, being toimprove the general construction of the machine.

In the drawings, 5 represents the gas-generating chamber, having thefeeding-drum 6 furnished at its top portion with thecarbidsupply-opening fitting 7, closed by the cap 8, screwed thereon.This chamber 5 is preferably mounted on a base 9 and is provided with aclean-out 10 of anyusual construction.

The construction of the supply-fitting 7 is more particularly shown inFig. 6, which shows the channel 7 formed in the wall of this fitting andconnecting with the upper end thereof, the cap 8 being furnished with anannular compartment 8', in which gas in passing toward the joint betweenthe cap 8 and the fitting 7 may be led to the upper end of the channel7.

Within the drum 6 is mounted the hopper 11, from which extends thecontracted portion or tube 12 and the frame 13, on the bars 14 of whichis sustained the cone 15, positioned beneath the portion or tube 12, andon this tube 12 works the tubular feed gate or valve 16, having pins, as17, or their equivalents, the lower end of this tubular gate 16 Arestingon the cone 15.

From the drum 6 depends the cylinder 18, having an open end around whichis fixed the plate 18, having the depending rims 19 19 furnished withserrated edges.

At the side of the chamber 5 is mounted the water-supply inlet 20,connecting with said chamber by a suitably-trapped supplypipe 21 andprovided with the gas-escape pipe 22.

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On the drum 6 is secured the casing 23, which connects with the interiorof the drum, and in this casing is pivoted the arm 24, having a forkedend engaging under the pins 17 17 and provided with the exterior lever25, having the weight 26 and the roller-bearing 27. The casing 23 isformed and packed to prevent the escape of gas in the manner shown andis provided with the gas-escape pipe 28, connecting with a similar pipe2S), leading from the channel 7 of the fitting 7, whereby the gasescaping from these parts is conveyed to the main escape-pipe 30, bywhich it is directed into the atmosphere outside the building in whichthe generator is stationed. Reference to said figure will show that thecasing 23 has a compartment 23, with which the pipe 28 connects, theshaft 24 of the lever 24 being journaled in the casing and compartmentand carrying the disks 242 and 243, the latter being movable, and thespring 244, which tends` to force these disks apart and against thewalla of the casing and its compartments to more fully close theshaft-bearings therein, as these disks can. be more accurately vfittedthan can the shaft, the lever 25 being litted and secured onto the outerend of the shaft 24.

The gas-storage mechanism comprises a casing 31, having the compartment32, connected by the pipe 33 with the drum 6, and having the pipe 34,leading upward, the partition 35 in this casing supporting the pipe 36,open at its ends and connected with the outer gas-main 37. Extcriorlythis casing is supplied with the inlets 38 and 39, the waterlevel belowthe partition 35 being indicated by the line a c, while the water-levelabove said partition is indicated by the line b' b.

The gas-escape 30 connects with the compartment of the casing'31 belowthe partition. 35 to provide for the escape of gas reaching thiscompartment. i

Within the casing 31 movable the inverted bell 40, having` the top 41,and the inner gas-bell 42, having openings, as 43 43, and covering theopen ends of the gas-inlet pipe 34. In the top 41 is secured the tube44, which works over the guide-rod 45, fixed in the partition 35.

From the upper end of the pipe 33 and partially sustained by the bracket46 of the casing 31 extends the standard 47, carrying thepivotally-mounted counterweighted lever 48, one arm of which isconnected. with the lever 25 by the wire 49, which works through aperforation in said arm and has its lower end enlarged to limit itsmovement independently of said lever 25.

From any suitable and ordinary support, of which 50 is a part, dependsthe bracket 51, in which the lever 52 is pivoted, one end of this leverbeing connected by the connection 53 with the weighted end of the lever48, while the other end of said lever 52 is flexibly connected by theconnection 54 with the cap 8 for closing the carbid-supply opening 7.

The hopper 11 is usually recharged with calcium carbid before theprevious charge therein `is wholly exhausted. To effect this recharging,it is necessary to remove the cap 8 from the fitting 7. If now thefeeding of the carbid from the hopper into the water contained in thechamber 5 be continued, gas would be generated and a large portionthereof would escape through the opening of the YIitting 7. In orderthat the continued generation of gas should be prevented, I connect thecap 8 with the feeding-control device, preferably as shown in thedrawings, whereby the weighted end of the arm 48 lifts the arm 25 of thefeed-control mechanism to thus depress the yoke 24 from any possiblelifting action on the feed-gate 16 and to sustain these parts in suchinactive position until the cap 8 is replaced and the escape of gas isprevented.

After the supply of calcium carbid has been placed in the hopper 11 andthe cap 8 has been screwed into place on the fitting 7 the gas-bell 41is generally at or about its lowest point of movement, and the downwardmovement of the arm 25, until the bearing 27 rests on said tank, causes.the proportionate lifting of the feed-gate 16, thus permitting apredetermined amount of carbid to fall from the cone 15 in annulardistribution into the water contained in the chamber 5, the action ofthe water on said carbid generating gaseous globules, the specificgravity of which being less than that of the water causing them to risetoward the surface of the water. In their upward movement these globulesare successively disrupted as they drag over the serrations of the lips19 and the undissolved matter therein liberated for further action bythe water. The gas thus generated accumulates between the lower portionof the chamber 6 and the upper portion of the hopper 11 and then entersthe pipe 33, passing into the compartment 32 of the storage-tank andthence through the pipe 34 into the chamber 42 of the gasbell 41 untilthe accumulation of gas in such chamber causes the lifting of the bellto the point where the feed-controller permits the feed-gate 16 toclose.

From the upper part of the bell 41 the gas passes down the pipe 36 andinto the servicemain 37, from whence it is distributed to the variouspoints of use.

By the connections from the several joints where any escape is possiblethe escaping gas is conveyed by the pipes 28, 29, and 30 and by the pipe22 to the exterior atmosphere.

Vhen the gas-bell is lifted by undue pressure of gas to bring theopenings 43 above the water-level l) l), the gas escapes from the innerbell into the outer bell and passes down through the pipe 55 (moreclearly shown in TOO Fig. 5 of the drawings) to the compartment belowthe partition 35 and is thence conveyed to the outer atmosphere by theescapepipe 30.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent` 1. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a chamberhaving a feed-hopper provided with a charging-opening, a feeding devicecontained within the chamber beneath said feed-hopper, an actuator forsaid feeding device, a counterbalance for such actuator for drawing thesame out of the operative position, a closure for the feed-hopperchargingopening, and means for connecting said closure and thecounterbalance.

2. An acetylene-gas machine comprising a chamber having a feed-hopperprovided with a charging-opening, a feeding device located within thechamber beneath said feed-hopper and furnished with a vertical gate, aleverfor actuating the gate, a counterbalance for such lever, and aclosure for the feed-hopper connecting with such counterbalance.

3. An acetylene-gas machine comprising a chamber having a feed-hopperprovided with a charging-opening, a feeding device contained therein andhaving a vertically-movable gate located beneath the feed-hopper and alever working through a suitable fitting on said chamber, the exteriorportion of the lever being adapted to engage with and to be actuated bya gasometer, a counterbalance for the exterior portion of the lever, andmeans for connecting said counterbalance with the closure for thefeed-hopper.

4. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a carbid-chamber having afeed-opening and a discharge-opening, a closure for the feedopening, aconical distributer located beneath the discharge-opening, a circularguard embracing the distributer, means for moving the guard, andconnections between such means and the closure for the feed-opening,whereby the movement of the guard is controlled by said closure.

5. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a carbid-chamber having afeed-opening and a discharge-tube, a water-tank into which thedischarge-tube extends, a closure for the feed-opening, a distributerlocated beneath the discharge-tube, a cylindrical gate working on thedischarge-tube, actuating means for the gate working through the wallvof the water-tank, and exterior connections between said actuatingmeans and the closure for the feed-opening.

6. An acetylene-gas machine comprising a chamber having a feed-opening,a screw-cap for closing the opening, a feeding device within thechamber, an actuator for the feeding device, and a counterbalancepositively connected with the actuator and with the screwcap whereby theactuator is withdrawn from operative position by the removal of the capand is returned to position by the replacing of the cap, without theactuation of additional mechanism.

7. An acetylene-gas machine comprising a chamber having a feed-opening,the hopper 11 within said chamber and having the pipe 12, the tubulargate 16 movable on said pipe, the lever 24 mounted on the shaft 24', andhaving a fork for engaging the pins 17 of the gate, the lever 25 fixedon the outer end of the shaft 24, the counterweighted arm 48 pivotallymounted and connected with the lever 25, the lever 52 pivotally mountedand connected with the arm 48, and the cap 8 connected with the lever52, as and for the purpose described.

8. The combination with the feed-chamber having the fitting 7 furnishedwith the channel 7 and the escape-pipe 29, of the cap 8 adapted to closesaid fitting and having the compartment 8, as and for the purposedescribed.

9. The combination with the chamber 6 and the fitting 23 secured theretoand having the compartment 23', of the waste-pipe 28 connected with saidcompartment, as and for the purpose described.

10. An acetylene-gas generator composed of a chamber having afeed-hopper provided with a charging-opening, a feeding device locatedwithin the chamber beneath said feedhopper, an actuator for said feedingdevice, a closure for said feed-hopper, a counterbalance connected tosaid closure and said actu-l ator to render the feeding deviceoperative, but allowing the feeding device to assume an inoperativeposition when the closure is removed by the action of the counterbalanceon the actuator.

In testimony whereof I affix my in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. CHANDLER.

signature Witnesses:

HORACE A. CRossMAN, SAMUEL H. LORD.

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